are you willing to go over the fiscal cliff if republicans do not agree that that? >> i think if there is no agreement whatsoever, the president has probably no choice but to say, okay, we're going to go over the cliff. that would no be my first preference. my first preference is that as we get closer to the cliff, that we find an agreement that makes some sense, so we don't have to go over it. if we don't go over,'re entering very unchartered waters. who knows how the markets will react, what will happen -- i hope we don't have to go over. >> and it could hit almost every single american, which is why when people are watching this, they're so frustrated they can't do what the american people want them to do. so are you telling me that congress needs a deadline and likes to go up to the deadline, is it posturing? >> no, the world is run by deadlines, you know, it's human nature not to do when you know what you should until you get closer to that deadline. it would be better if we work right now, and we are working now, but deadlines help. >> we're all watching in th